Safeguarding adults and vulnerable people policy

Time4Leicestershire (T4L) Timebank is a scheme which enables individuals across Leicestershire to swap time, skills and information.  The scheme has a wide range of members and their safety whilst engaging with others is paramount. Safeguarding and the protection of scheme members welfare is everyone’s responsibly in order to ensure the safety of others. Within the T4L scheme Safeguarding means protecting members’ health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to use the Timebank scheme free from harm or abuse. 

The aim of this policy is to ensure that all members, especially those seen as vulnerable, are protected and kept safe from harm while participating in the Timebank. Both employed staff and timebank members should work together to prevent abuse and to both protect and safeguard adults where possible and where preventative measures fail, to deal sensitively and effectively with incidents of abuse.    

Within T4L a member is over the age of 18. Any exchanges involving children under the age of 18 must have a T4L member present, with a visual of the non-member, at all times. The adult member must undertake the administration of the exchange and receive the time credits. T4L is not responsible for the conduct of scheme participants and by signing up to the scheme does not imply or identify responsibility for individual members conduct.

The Designated Person is a ‘named person’ to whom any concerns should be reported to. The Designated Person is named on the front page of this policy.

A safeguarding concern can arise due to various circumstances which may lead to a person being or feeling vulnerable in a certain situation:

Health – physical disability, severe or long-term illness, hearing or visual impairments, poor mental health, low mental capacity, or cognitive disabilities.

Life events – caring responsibilities, bereavement, income shock, relationship breakdown, changes due to various life events for example redundancy, ex-offenders, care leavers, refugees.

Resilience – low or erratic income, over indebtedness, low savings, low emotional resilience, lack of support structure.

Capability – low knowledge or confidence in managing financial matters, poor literacy or numeracy skills, low English language skills, poor or non-existent digital skills, learning impairments.

Age – T4L does  not see age itself as an indicator of vulnerability. 

Examples of abuse include, but are not restricted to:

Physical, neglect, psychological, financial or material, sexual, organisational, modern slavery, self neglect, discriminatory, domestic.

Physical abuse - Examples include: Slapping, pushing, kicking, rough handling, twisting of limbs/ extremities, misuse of medication, or inappropriate sanctions or restraint.

Sexual abuse - Examples include: Rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, could not consent or was pressured into consenting. Non-contact abuse such as voyeurism, involvement in pornography.

Psychological / Emotional abuse - Examples include: verbal assault or intimidation, emotional abuse, deprivation of contact verbal abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, humiliation or blaming, overriding of consent, choices or wishes, felling worthless, frightened or unloved. NB: Psychological/emotional abuse will usually occur in conjunction with other forms of abuse. 

Financial abuse - Examples include: theft, fraud, exploitation, and pressure in connections with wills, property, possessions or benefits.

Neglect and acts of omission - Examples include: ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

Discriminatory abuse - This abuse is usually motivated by discriminatory and oppressive attitudes towards race gender, culture background, religion physical and/ or sensory impairment, sexual orientation and age.

Institutional abuse, neglect and poor practice - This may take the form of isolated incidents of poor or unsatisfactory professional practice at one end of the spectrum, through to persuasive ill treatment or gross misconduct.

When approving members, the T4L Team will take into account the need to protect all members. When an individual registers their interest in being a Timebank member, they will meet with the T4L Team either one to one or as part of a welcome meeting (either face to face or online). The Team will begin to build a rapport with all members to ensure they are approachable should need arise.

Policies and guidance will be discussed at the welcome meeting to ensure all individuals are aware of safeguarding for all and their responsibility.

When signing up to become a Timebank member, individuals confirm that they have read the Time4Leicestershire Timebank terms and conditions and that they will work within these guidelines. These terms and conditions will be discussed at the welcome meeting to ensure everyone understands their responsibilities.

Two character references will be requested for all new members. Once received and confirmed via telephone, the member will be approved on the system. The new member will then have access to the Timebank Platform and they can start posting Requests or Offers. 

When signing up to become a member, all individuals will be asked to declare if they have any criminal convictions. 

Having a criminal conviction does not exclude someone becoming a timebank member.  Any Disclosure will be assessed to establish the level of risk the subject poses to other members. A number of questions will be asked:

What is the seriousness of the offence(s) and the circumstances surrounding it?

• How long is it since the offence was committed?
• Does the subject have a pattern of offending?
• Has the subject’s situation changed since the offence occurred?
• What is the subject’s explanation of the offence?
• Did the subject declare the offence prior to the Disclosure?
• Does the offence relate to vulnerable people?

A risk assessment will be undertaken to identify risk levels and mitigations and upon completion of this a decision will be made if exchanges can take place

If any of these questions are not answered satisfactorily, then the prospective member will not be approved to join the scheme.

It is not the responsibility of anyone within T4L in a paid or unpaid capacity to decide whether or not abuse has taken place. It is therefore vital that anyone raises any case of suspected or alleged abuse with Adult Social Care

Any disclosure or suspicion of abuse, must be reported as soon as is reasonably possible to Adult Social Care on 0116 305 0004 and to the T4L safeguarding lead contact person (name and details are on the front page)

At the welcome meeting, all members  will be made aware of the good practice guidelines on the immediate action to be taken following a report of abuse or welfare concern (See appendix 1). 

If a member of T4L makes an allegation about another organisation or person(s), this should be reported to Adult Social Care on 0116 305 0004. 

If there is evidence of immediate criminal activity, the member should remove themself from any danger and call 999.  

Adult Social Care along with T4L scheme management will investigate incidents reported to them. T4L members and staff should provide any support and information asked for by the Adult Social Care team.

In the context of this policy, a vulnerable adult is defined as someone who:

• receives personal care, or nursing, or support to live independently in their own home, or a care home
• receives any health or social services;
• is a client of an organisation due to their vulnerability;
• regardless of residence or type of service received, possesses a physical, mental or emotional infirmity which impairs the person’s ability to provide for his or her basic care without assistance and, as a result of the infirmity and dependence has an impaired ability to protect herself/himself from maltreatment.

The T4L scheme does not aim to work specifically with those who are vulnerable. These adults will not be signed up as members. If it is decided they are vulnerable but have the capacity to undertake exchanges, a sub account will be set up and overseen by the T4L Team.

If an individual is assessed by a Leicestershire County Council employee as having a need that the Timebank could support, time credits from the Community Pot may be used to fund this need. They will therefore not need to be a member of the Timebank to benefit from the scheme.

At times when vulnerable adults are involved in social events or exchanges, they must always be supported by their representative during the exchange process. This could be the Local Area Co-ordinator, a carer, relative etc. 

The representative can themselves be a member to facilitate the exchanges that may benefit a vulnerable adult.  However, they must always be present as per 5.iv.

No attempt will be made to recruit extremely vulnerable adults as members to the scheme. Enquiries from these adults will be referred to Local Area Co-ordinators.

Guidelines on immediate action to be taken by members following a reporting of abuse.

If abuse is reported to you as a member of T4L you should:

• React calmly.
• Re-assure the person that you are glad they have told you.
• Explain that you can’t keep this information to yourself.
• Explain that you need to make sure that they will be safe.
• As soon as possible, telephone the Adult and Social Care team (0116 305 0004) to report what you have been told. You can telephone when someone has told you about abuse or when you suspect abuse is happening.